Buying · 7 min read

Florida Hometown Heroes in Kissimmee: who qualifies (a guide for Minnesotans)

If you're moving from Minnesota to Kissimmee for a job, you may have heard about Florida Hometown Heroes, a state program that helps with the down payment and closing costs. It can be a real boost for buyers in Kissimmee and the rest of Osceola County, but the rules are specific, and a lot of Minnesotans assume they qualify when they don't (or the other way around). I'm licensed in both Minnesota and Florida, so here's a plain-English look at who qualifies, how the money works, and how it fits with a move from the Twin Cities.

What Florida Hometown Heroes is

The Florida Hometown Heroes program is run by Florida Housing Finance Corporation. Florida Housing describes it as help for "first-time, income-qualified homebuyers" buying a primary residence in the community where they work and serve. The program is set up in state law at Florida Statute 420.5096.

Who qualifies for Hometown Heroes in Kissimmee

Here's what Florida Housing and the statute list today. Confirm with a participating lender, since rules change.

  • A full-time job with a Florida-based employer. The statute requires borrowers to be employed full-time by a Florida-based employer. Self-employed buyers have to document full-time status.
  • An eligible line of work. Florida Housing's program page lists health care workers, school staff, first responders, public safety and court employees, child care workers, current servicemembers (military, reserves, Coast Guard and Florida National Guard), and veterans employed full-time by a Florida-based employer. Its eligible employers list gives examples, and notes that only one borrower has to qualify through an eligible employer.
  • A first-time buyer. The statute says borrowers must be first-time homebuyers, but that requirement doesn't apply to active-duty servicemembers, Florida National Guard members or veterans.
  • A Florida resident buying a primary residence. The statute calls for Florida residents, and the home must be your primary residence.
  • Income under the limit. The statute caps household income at 150% of the state or local median income, whichever is greater. Florida Housing publishes the actual numbers by county in its 2026 income and loan limits. Look for the Osceola County row if you're buying in Kissimmee.

How much help it gives, and how repayment works

Florida Housing says the assistance is up to 5% of your first mortgage loan amount, with a minimum of $10,000 and a maximum of $35,000. It pairs with FHA, VA, USDA Rural Development and conventional first mortgages, and Florida Housing says eligible borrowers get reduced upfront fees and no origination or discount points.

The help comes as a 0%, non-amortizing, 30-year deferred second mortgage. That means:

  • No monthly payment and no interest on the second mortgage.
  • It's not forgivable. You pay it back in full when you sell, refinance the first mortgage, transfer the deed, or stop living in the home as your primary residence. The statute also lists renting the home out.

If you might rent out the Kissimmee home later, plan for that payoff.

What this means if you're moving from Minnesota

This is where Minnesotans get tripped up. Hometown Heroes is built for people who live and work in Florida. A few situations I see:

  • You have a job offer in Kissimmee or nearby Orlando or St. Cloud. If the job is full-time with a Florida-based employer in an eligible field, and the home will be your primary residence, you may be a good fit. Ask your lender when your new employment can be counted.
  • You're keeping a Minnesota job and working remotely. The rule is about a Florida-based employer, not just where you sit. Ask a participating lender how your employer would be treated before you count on the program.
  • You're buying a winter home and keeping your Minnesota house. A second home isn't a primary residence, so this program generally won't fit. My guide to buying in Orlando from Minnesota covers the second-home side.
  • You still own a home in Minnesota. Unless you're a servicemember or veteran, the program is for first-time buyers. Ask the lender how your current or past ownership affects that before you plan around it.
  • You're a veteran. Veterans employed full-time by a Florida-based employer are on the eligible list, and the first-time buyer requirement doesn't apply to them. Florida Housing also says qualifying servicemembers and veterans may get a lower first mortgage rate.

Kissimmee and Osceola County details to check

Down payment help is only part of the cost of owning in Florida. Before you write an offer in Kissimmee, check these:

Comparing Kissimmee with Clermont in Lake County? Each county has its own appraiser, tax collector and school district.

How to apply

  1. Find a participating lender. You apply through a lender, not directly with the state. Florida Housing's lender and agent locator lists loan officers who work with its programs. My mortgage page can help too.
  2. Confirm eligibility and funding. Ask the lender about your occupation, income, the Osceola County limits, and whether funds are available right now.
  3. Get pre-approved before you tour, so you know your price range with the assistance included.
  4. Shop and make an offer. I'll help you compare homes, HOA rules, insurance costs and flood zones, then negotiate.

One safety note from Florida Housing: there is no cost to apply for Hometown Heroes down payment assistance. If anyone asks you for an upfront fee, don't pay it. Florida Housing asks people to report suspected fraud to its Inspector General's Office at 850-488-4197.

Selling in Minnesota before your Kissimmee move

If you're selling a home in Anoka County first, what you net from that sale shapes your Kissimmee budget. Get a free home value estimate and see my Minnesota-to-Florida moving plan. Still deciding on Minnesota programs instead? My post on first-time buyer programs in Ramsey, MN covers Minnesota Housing's options.

My listing fee is 2% in Minnesota and Florida, compared with a traditional 6% commission.

Traditional 6% includes both the listing and buyer agent sides. Buyer agent compensation is negotiated separately.

This post is general information, not legal, tax or lending advice. Program rules, limits and funding change, so talk to a participating lender or other professional about your situation.

Florida Hometown Heroes FAQ

Can I use Florida Hometown Heroes if I still live in Minnesota?

The statute calls for Florida residents who work full-time for a Florida-based employer and buy a primary residence. If you're moving to Kissimmee for an eligible Florida job, ask a participating lender how and when your situation counts. A Florida winter home you use part of the year generally won't qualify.

How much can Hometown Heroes pay toward a Kissimmee home?

Florida Housing says up to 5% of the first mortgage amount, with a $10,000 minimum and a $35,000 maximum. It's a 0% deferred second mortgage, not a grant, and it's due when you sell, refinance, transfer the deed or stop living in the home.

Do veterans have to be first-time buyers?

No. Florida Statute 420.5096 says the first-time buyer requirement doesn't apply to active-duty servicemembers, Florida National Guard members or veterans. Veterans still need full-time work with a Florida-based employer and must meet the other program rules.

Moving to Kissimmee from Minnesota? Plan your move with Dustin